Register resetting mechanism

ABSTRACT

A register has a plurality of groups of decimally related number wheels which are driven during a dispensing operation to indicate the quantity and cost of a commodity being dispensed. A resetting mechanism functions to un couple the wheels from the driving means, to reset the wheels to zero, and then to recouple the wheels to the driving means, in response to the rotation of a reset shaft in one direction through a portion of a revolution, followed by the rotation of this shaft in the reverse direction back to its original position. The reciprocatory rotation of the reset shaft is effected by means of a reset motor which typically also effects other resetting and adjustment or setting operations in a selective dispensing apparatus.

United States Patent Inventor Einar T. Young Newtown Square, Pa.

Appl. No. 850,739

Filed Aug. 18, 1969 Patented Nov. 2, 1971 Assignee Sun Oil Company Philadelphia, Pa.

REGISTER RESETTING MECHANISM 235/94, 144 S, 144 D, 144 SY References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,136,530 11/1938 Trudeau 222/33 3,045,868 7/1962 Carnagua et a1... 222/33 3,072,292 l/l963 Haupt et a1. 222/33 42 I /24 I I t; i 46 4.

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley A. Wal

Attorneys-George L. Church, Donald R. Johnson, Wilmer E.

McCorquodale, Jr. and Frank A. Rechif ABSTRACT: A register has a plurality of groups of decimally related number wheels which are driven during a dispensing operation to indicate the quantity and cost of a commodity being dispensed. A resetting mechanism functions to un couple the wheels from the driving means, to reset the wheels to zero, and then to recouple the wheels to the driving means, in response to the rotation of a reset shaft in one direction through a portion of a revolution, followed by the rotation of this shaft in the reverse direction back to its original position. The reciprocatory rotation of the reset shaft is effected by means of a reset motor which typically also effects other resettiiig an'cliadjustment or setting operations in a selective dispensingapparatus.

RES T 7 MOTO R PATENTEDNUV 2 m1 SHEET 2 0F 3 INVENTORI EINAR T. YOUNG ATTY.

. FIGB.

REGISTER RESETTING MECHANISM This invention relates generally to registers or counters, and more particularly to an improved resetting mechanism for a register. Speaking generally, the invention may be thought of as an improvement over the mechanism disclosed in Bliss, U.S. Pat. No. 2,814,444.

The invention has particular application to counters or registers employing a plurality of groups of indicating wheels (number wheels) and wherein, if desired, more than one quantity may be counted or registered. A typical example of the use of such a register is in the gasoline dispensing field where it is desired to register both the quantity of gasoline dispensed and the cost thereof. In such installations, the number wheels of g the register are adapted to be driven by a meter, a change speed mechanism set in accordance with the prevailing price per gallon being employed to provide the proper ration between the drives to the cost and quantity wheels. In the dispensing of gasoline, it is the preferred operating procedure, of course, to reset the indicating wheels to zero after one dispensing operation is completed and before the start of a second dispensing operation.

Although registers equipped with the resetting mechanism of this invention are capable of use with various types of gasoline dispensing apparatus, they are particularly suitable for use with the simplified (for self-service) selective multigrade gasoline dispensing apparatus disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 850,901 filed Aug. 18, 1969.

In order to provide a gasoline-dispensing apparatus which is particularly suitable for self-service operation (as disclosed in my aforementioned application), all of the necessary resetting, as well as setting or adjustment operations of the mechanism, are automatically effected by a reset motor (power means), in response to the manual actuation of a selected pushbutton which starts the operation. Once a pushbutton has been actuated for selection of a particular grade of gasoline desired, the operation is automatic, which is to say that the reset motor automatically goes through an ON" cycle of operation before the actual dispensing begins, and later, after the actual dispensing terminates, this same motor automatically goes through an "OFF" cycle of operation. During these "N and OFF cycles of operation of the reset motor, one of the operations which must be effected is the resetting of the indicating wheels of the register, so that they will be at zero before the start of each dispensing operation. Actually, since an OFF cycle of operation of the reset motor follows each dispensing operation and since an ON cycle of this same motor precedes each dispensing operation, the resetting of the register wheels is begun during an OFF cycle, following one dispensing operation, and is completed during the next ON cycle, before the next succeeding dispensing operation.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel motorized or powered resetting mechanism for a register.

Another object is to provide a powered register-resetting mechanism which is relatively simple as compared to prior powered or motorized resetting mechanisms.

The objects of this invention are accomplished, briefly, in the following manner: A main reset shaft for the register is rotated, by a reset motor in the dispensing apparatus, through an angle of 90 in one direction during the OFF" cycle of the resetting and adjusting operation, and through this same angle, but in the reverse direction, during a following ON cy cle. During the OFF" rotation, a cam arrangement on the reset shaft causes declutching of the number wheels of the register from the driving means which drives them during the dispensing. During the first portion of the "ON" rotation of the reset shaft, a one-way clutch operated by this shaft causes resetting of the number wheels to zero, and during the latter portion of this ON" rotation the cam arrangement previously mentioned reclutches the number wheels to their driving means. A detailed description of the invention follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a plan view of a register, removed from the casing of a gasoline-dispensing apparatus with which the register may be associated.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the register of FIG 1, the moving parts thereof being shown in the ON position which they assume when a dispensing operation is initiated, after the resetting motor has gone through its ON" cycle;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view looking at the side of the register opposite to that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2, but drawn on a larger scale, showing the moving parts in the OFF" position which they assume after a dispensing operation has been completed and after the reset motor has gone through its OFF" cycle; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly FIGS. 1-4 thereof showing a register of the type particularly adapted for use in gasoline-dispensing apparatus, it will be seen that the register is mounted on a frame consisting of side plates 10 held in spaced-apart relationship by spreader bars 12. The frame has slidably journaled therein four axially movable horizontal wheel-supporting shafts l4, 16, I8, and 20, the shaft 14 having mounted thereon a group of rotatable number wheels for registering the cost of the gasoline dispensed, these wheels being hereinafter referred to as the cost wheels C. Similarly mounted on the shaft 16 is a group of number wheels which are utilized to register the quantity of the gasoline dispensed, which latter group of wheels is hereinafter referred to as the quantity wheels Q. In this type of apparatus, it is desired to provide a duplicate indication at opposite ends of the register so that the operator or customer (only the latter, of course, in a self-service operation) may read the indication from either side of the dispensing apparatus. Accordingly, the shaft 18 is provided with a group of number wheels corresponding to the cost wheels C, and these will be referred to hereinafter as the cost wheels C. In like manner, the shaft 20 has mounted thereon a group of number wheels for registering the quantity of gasoline dispensed, which correspond to the quantity wheels Q, and these will be referred to hereinafter as the quantity wheels 0.

As is customary with type of apparatus, the completely as sembled register, as installed in a gasoline dispensing apparatus, is preferably provided with a protective cover (not shown) which is a generally boxlike housing having windows situated in registry with the quantity wheels 0' so as to expose the reading line thereof to view, and provided with other windows situated in registry with the cost wheels C to similarly expose the cost wheels C' to view. It will be understood that this cover has similar groups of windows at the opposite side for cooperation with the cost wheels C and quantity wheels 0.

The register of this invention, as previously mentioned, is particularly suitable for use with a multigrade gasolinedispensing apparatus of the type disclosed in my aforementioned application. As described in the said application, number wheels (not shown) are provided, these latter wheels being visible from the outside of the aforementioned housing and associated with a variator mechanism such that they indicate the price per gallon of one of the grades of gasoline which can be dispensed by the apparatus. The variator mechanism mentioned is set in accordance with the price of this one particular grade, and is one of the units in a gearing arrangement which produces the proper speed ratio between the drives to the cost wheels and quantity wheels respectively. The mentioned gearing arrangement is described in some detail in my aforesaid application.

The manner in which the cost wheels C, C' and the quantity wheels Q, Q are driven in order to register the cost and quantity of the liquid dispensed is best shown in FIGS. I and 4 of the drawings. Referring to these figures, it will be seen that there is rotatably mounted midway between the ends of the frame and upper cross-shaft 32 and a lower cross-shaft 34. The upper cross-shaft 32 has fixed thereto adjacent the ends of the shaft a pair of gears 36, 36' which mesh with idler gears 38, 38' mounted on studs 40, 40' which are respectively mounted in the opposite side plates 10. The idler gears 38, 38 are in mesh with the driven gears 42, 42' which are connected, respectively, to the wheel of lowest order of the cost wheels C and C. The shaft 32 has fixed thereto, intermediate its ends, a bevel gear 44 which meshes with a bevel gear 46 shown in phantom in FIG. 1. This latter gear is mounted on the output shaft of a differential (not shown) one of the inputs to which comes from the variator previously mentioned. The said differential is the output unit of the gearing arrangement previously mentioned, and described in detail in my aforementioned application; the arrangement is such that the unit wheels of the group of cost wheels C and C will be driven in unison at a speed commensurate with the price of the quantity of gasoline being dispensed.

Each of the number wheels of the groups of cost wheels C and C is provided about its periphery with indicia consisting of the numerals zero to nine inclusive, and it is the intention that for each complete revolution of a number wheel of lower order, the wheel of next higher order will be rotated one-tenth revolution. The transfer mechanism for transferring the count from the wheels of lower order to the wheels of higher order is quite conventional and forms no part of the present invention; therefore, it will not be described herein. A suitable transfer mechanism is disclosed in the previously mentioned Bliss patent.

Turning now to the gear train for driving the quantity wheels Q, it will be seen that the number wheels of lowest order of the quantity wheels Q, Q' are driven in similar manner by gears 62 62 on opposite ends of shaft 34 which engage idler gears 64, 64' which in turn mesh with the driven gears 42, 42' of the number wheels of lowest order of the quantity wheels. The shaft 34 is rotated by means of a bevel gear 66 fixed intermediate the ends of shaft 34 and meshing with a bevel gear 68 shown in phantom in FIG. 1 and which is mounted on a shaft driven without any variable speed change by the output of a summing differential (not shown). As disclosed in my previously mentioned application, there is employed in the multigrade gasoline-dispensing apparatus a summing differential which receives inputs from two meters, through which are passed respectively the two gasoline blending components dispensed, these two meters being rotated thereby respectively in amounts commensurate with the quantitles of the two respective gasoline components dispensed. The summing differential mentioned is utilized to drive the quantity register directly, while the drive to the cost register is through the gearing arrangement (including the variator and another differential, previously mentioned) which changes the speed of rotation in accordance with the price per gallon of the particular grade of gasoline being dispensed.

The means to transfer the count of the wheels of lower order to the wheels of higher order in the groups of wheels 0, Q whereby each wheel of higher order will be rotated onetenth revolution for each complete revolution of the preceding wheel of lower order is the same as in the case of the cost wheels, previously mentioned.

The construction of the number wheels of the register forms no part of the present invention, so will not be disclosed in detail herein. The detailed construction of these number wheels is disclosed in the aforementioned Bliss patent. As fully described in the cited patent, axial movement of the axially movable wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18, and causes clutching and declutching of the number wheels to take place. Suffice it to say here, for the purposes of the present specification, that axial shifting of the shafts 14, 16, 18, and 20 in the vertically downward direction in FIG. 1 (how this shifting is effected being described hereinafter) declutches the number wheels from the driven gears 42, 42 and conditions these wheels for a resetting operation, by clutching them to respective ultimate resetting gears 106 one of which latter is provided for each number wheel. From this downwardly shifted position of the shafts l4, 16, 1B, and 20, an axial shifting of these shafts in the vertically upward direction in FIG. 1 (to their original positions) reclutches the number wheels with their driven gears 42, 42'. During the actual resetting opera tion (and as described in the Bliss patent cited), as each number wheel reaches zero, the operative driving connection between each number wheel and its resetting gear 106 is broken, through a declutching action which then takes place.

The supporting shafts l4, 16, I8, and 20, although mounted for axial shifting movement, are retained against any rotational movement by pins 123 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) fixed on the outer ends of the shafts and slidably received between ears 125 formed in the side plate of the frame.

In order to impart turning movement to the gears 106 for resetting purposes, each of the gears 106 is meshed with one of the gears 124 which are fixed to transverse shafts 126, 126'. The shafts 126, 126. protrude through the side plate 10 shown in FIG. 2 and are provided at their outer ends with pinions 128 which mesh at opposite sides with the spur gear 130 which is rotatably mounted on the main reset shaft 132. As explained more fully hereinafter, the primary resetting gear 130 is turned by the reset motor 22 (FIG. 1), during its ON cycle of operation, in order to reset all of the number wheels to zero in one operation.

The shifting of the wheel-supporting shafts 14, l6, l8, and 20, in order to condition the register for a resetting operation by declutching the number of wheels from the driven gears 42, 42, or to recondition the register for a registering operation by reclutching the number wheels to the driven gears, is accomplished by a mechanism disposed on the exterior of the opposite side plate 10 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, there is fixed to the main reset shaft 132 an unsymmetrical cam 134 having two inclined camming surfaces or rise" portions 134a and 134b interconnected by a "dwell portion 134a. The cam portions 134a and l34b are arcuate, with centers at different respective points which are both eccentrically located with respect to the center of shaft 132. The cam portion 1340 may also be arcuate, but centered at the center of shaft 132. The rise direction of surface l34b is counterclockwise, while that of surface 1340 is clockwise, both as viewed in FIG. 3. The cam 134 cooperates with a pair of rollers 136 and 24 mounted on a slide 138 slidably mounted at its opposite ends on ears 140 provided on the side plate.

Refer now to FIG. 1. The end of the main reset shaft 132 opposite to cam 134 is provided with a coupling 154 for receiv ing one end ofa drive shaft 156 which is mechanically coupled through a suitable linkage indicated at 158 to the crank arm of a crank 160 driven by the reset motor 22. As disclosed in my aforementioned copending application, the arrangement is such that, during the OFF cycle of reset motor operation which follows each actual dispensing operation, the main reset shaft 132 is rotated 90 counterclockwise viewed as in FIG. 2; during the "ON cycle of reset motor operation which precedes each actual dispensing operation, the main reset shaft 132 is rotated 90 clockwise (viewed as in FIG. 2) from the just-mentioned counterclockwise position. This means that, viewing the register from the opposite side as in FIG. 3, the main reset shaft 132, and also the cam 134, are rotated 90 in the clockwise direction during the "OFF" cycle of reset motor operation, and during the ON cycle of reset motor operation, and during the ON cycle of reset motor operation, shaft 132 and cam 134 are rotated 90 in the counterclockwise direction from the just-mentioned clockwise position. In FIG. 3, the cam 134 is illustrated in its ON" or re gistering position, that is, in the position it takes at the end of the ON cycle of reset motor operation, just before the actual dispensing begins.

As cam 134 is turned 90 in a clockwise direction (from its FIG. 3 position, during the OFF" reset motor cycle, at the end of an actual dispensing operation), the camming surface 134a will come into play and move the slide 138 to the left by action of the surface 134a against the roller 136, the decreasing radium of surface l34b as the cam moves in this direction allowing the roller 24 to move to the left as viewed in FIG. 3, along with the slide. It may be noted here that the radius of surface 134a increases as the cam moves in this clockwise or OFF direction.

When the cam 134 is rotated in a reverse or counterclockwise direction from the OFF" position described in the preceding paragraph (this latter rotation occurring during the ON" reset motor cycle, before the beginning of an actual dispensing operation), the decreasing radius of surface 134a as the cam moves in this direction would allow roller 136 and slide 138 to move to the right, but during the first 60 of this counterclockwise rotation of the cam, the dwell portion 134a of the cam, being of constant radius referred to the center of shaft 132, does not move the roller 24; therefore, during this first 60 of the 90 counterclockwise cam rotation, the slide 138 will remain stationary and will not move.

When 60 of the 90 counterclockwise or ON rotation of cm 134 has been completed, the camming surface 134b comes into play, moving the slide 138 to the right by the "rising" action of surface I34b against the roller 24, the decreasing radius of surface 134a as the cam continues to move in this direction allowing the roller 136 to move toward the right as viewed in FIG. 3, along with the slide. It may be noted here that the radius of surface 134b increases as the cam moves in this counterclockwise direction. Thus, during the last 30 of the 90 counterclockwise or ON rotation of the cam 134, the slide 138 will be moved to the right and returned to its original position (shown in FIG. 3).

An arcuate notch or cutout 135 (of constant radius and having approximately radially extending end walls, in the material of the cam) in the cam 134 accommodating a stop 137 projecting from the frame limits the angular rotation of the cam 134.

The opposite ends of the slide 138 are formed with notches 142 for accommodating and engaging the tails of pawls 144 which are fixed to upright shafts 146 journaled as at 148 at opposite ends of the side plate. The extremities of the shafts 146 are provided with gear segments I50 meshing with a series of circumferential teeth 152 on the adjacent protruding ends of the wheel-supporting shafts I4, 16, 18, and 20. Consequently, when the main reset shaft 132 is in the position shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, which is the registering or "ON position, the wheel-supporting shafts 14, 16, 18, and are retained in the position shown generally in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the number wheels then being engaged with their respective driven gears 42, 42'. However, when the main reset shaft 132 is rotated to the other or "OFF" position, the slide 138 is shifted to the left from the position shown in FIG. 3, causing rotation to be applied to the upright shafts 146 which in turn axially shifts the wheel-supporting shafts I4, l6, l8, and 20 in the vertically downward direction in FIG. 1, whereupon the number wheels are disengaged from their respective driven gears and are in condition for resetting.

It will be apparent from the preceding description that, in order to reset the register, it is only necessary for the reset motor 22 to rotate the main reset shaft 132 sufficiently to cause shifting of the number wheel supporting shafts and then to effect a rotation of the spur gear 130, which in turn will cause rotation of the gears 106 to return the number wheels to zero position; thereafter, further rotation of the main reset shaft by the motor shifts the wheel-supporting shafts back to their original supporting position, thus conditioning the register for a registering operation. As will be explained subsequently, the rotation of the spur gear 130 is effected by motor-powered rotation of the main reset shaft.

Turning now to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6. will be seen that the primary resetting gear 130 is rotatably mounted on the main reset shaft 132, between the coupling 154 and the side plate 10. Fixed to the coupling 154 is a drive plate 180 which, by reason of such mounting, is adapted to turn with the reset shaft. Immediately behind the drive plate 180 is a notched disc 184 which is fixed to the primary resetting gear 130. In the specific embodiment disclosed, the notched disc 184 is illustrated from simplicity as made integral with the resetting gear 130.

Pivoted on the inner face of the drive plate 180 adjacent the periphery thereof is a drive pawl 200, the pawl 200 being pivoted in a clockwise direction into engagement with the notched disc 184 by a spring 202 opposite ends of which are attached to plate 180 and to pawl 200, respectively. When the apparatus is in the position shown in FIG. 2, which is the ON position at the end of the dispensing operation, the following OFF cycle of operation of the reset motor 22 causes a counterclockwise rotation of the main reset shaft 132, as described in my above-mentioned copending application, and a similar rotation of the drive plate 180 secured to this shaft. At the end of the OFF" cycle of reset motor operation, the apparatus is in the position shown in FIG. 5, which is the OFF" position.

The direction in which the pawl 200 faces is such that, when the drive plate 180 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction during the OFF cycle as above described, the nose of the pawl 200 will merely ratchet over the edge of the notched disc 184 and will impart no movement thereto. To ensure that no movement will be imparted to the notched disc 184 by reason of the drag of thepawl 200, there is provided a combination stop and no-back pawl 204 pivoted at 206 on the frame and biased into engagement with the notched disc 184 by means of a spring 208 opposite ends of which are attached to pawl 204 and to the frame, respectively.

Assuming that actual dispensing is taking place, then the parts of the resetting mechanism described immediately above will be in the ON position shown in FIG. 2. When the actual dispensing has been completed, the reset motor goes through its OFF" cycle of operation (as described in my aforesaid application), at the completion of which the parts of the resetting mechanism referred to will be moved to the position shown in FIG. 5. In this latter position, the drive plate 180 has been turned through an angle of 90 counterclockwise from its position in FIG. 2, carrying the pawl 200 around with it. During this counterclockwise rotation of plate 180, drive pawl 200 merely ratchets over the edge of disc 184, as previously stated; during this operation, no movement is imparted to the primary resetting gear or the notched disc 184, this being effectively prevented by the no-back pawl 204.

At the completion of the movement of the parts to the position shown in FIG. 5, the no-back pawl 204 is cammed to a partial releasing position. As will be observed, the drive plate has an abrupt camming edge 26 which is adapted to engage under a forwardly projecting pin 28 fixed to the no-back pawl 204, thus lifting the no-back pawl into the partial releasing position as the mechanism reaches the position shown in FIG. 5. As will be noted, the notches 30 of the notched disc 184 have one corner thereof indicated at 300 cut away so as to render the notch more shallow on one side than the other. Accordingly, when the no-back pawl 204 is in full latching posi tion as shown in FIG. 2, movement of the notched disc 184 in either direction is prevented. However, when the no-back pawl 204 is raised to partial releasing position by the camming action of the camming edge 26, as shown in FIG. 5, the notched disc 184 will be released for clockwise movement because of the shallowness of the notch at 30a, but will still be prevented from movement in a counterclockwise direction. It may be here noted that, to conform to the 90 back-and-forth rotation of drive plate 180 and pawl 200, the notched disc 184 (which, as will later become apparent, is driven intermittently in only a clockwise direction, in 90 steps) is provided with four notches 30, spaced at equal 90 intervals around this disc. With the apparatus in the position shown in FIG. 5, which is the position of the apparatus at the end of the reset motor OFF cycle which follows an actual dispensing operation, the overall register resetting operation is completed during the next following ON" cycle of the reset motor, which precedes the next actual dispensing operation. As previously mentioned, and in accordance with the disclosure in my previously mentioned application, during the ON" reset motor cycle the 7 main reset shaft 132 and drive plates 180 (secured to shaft 132) are rotated 90 clockwise, from the FIG. 5 position to the FIG. 2 position. The clockwise rotation of drive plate 180 will cause a concurrent rotation of the notched disc 184 because of the driving action of drive pawl 200 which is in engagement with one of the notches 30 of the notched disc 184. it may be seen that the plate-and-pawl arrangement 180, 200 comprises a one-way clutch for coupling together drive plate 180 and disc 184, since disc 184 is coupled to plate 180 only when the latter moves in the clockwise direction, even though the drive plate 180 rotates in both directions. The mentioned concurrent movement of notched disc 184 will not be prevented by the no-back pawl 204 because, as previously mentioned, this pawl has been moved to releasing position by cam shoulder 26 drive plate 180.

Upon partial movement of drive plate 180 and notched disc 184 therewith, the no-back pawl 204 is again free to lock the disc 184 against movement, which is does as soon as disc 184 has rotated far enough to bring the next notch 30 into registry therewith, which occurs at the completion of the 90 ON rotation of plate 180 and disc 184. As described in the cited Bliss patent, a 60 rotation of the primary resetting gear 130 (which is integral with and rotates with notched disc 184), from the FIG. 5 position, is sufi'icient to complete the resetting of the number wheels of the register. The resetting of the number wheels is effected from the primary resetting gear 130, through the intermediate gears 128 and 124, to the ultimate resetting gears 106.

As just mentioned, the resetting of the number wheels takes place during the first 60 of the 90 ON rotation of the main reset shaft 132; as previously described, during the last 30 of the ON rotation of this shaft, the wheel-supporting shafts are shifted to reengage the number wheels with their driven gears, thus conditioning the register for a dispensing operation.

While it is believed that the operation of the register will be apparent from the foregoing description, the following recapitulation of an operating cycle may be helpful in an understanding of the invention. For purposes of discussion, it will be assumed that an actual dispensing operation has been completed. The parts are then in the position shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the "ON position. Upon the completion of an actual dispensing operation, the reset motor 22 automatically begins its FF" cycle of operation, rotating the main reset shaft 132 through 90 to rotate cam 134 (FIG. 3) clockwise and drive plate 180 (FIG. 2) counterclockwise.

This rotation of cam 134 shifts the wheel-supporting shafts 14, l6, l8, and 20 to declutch the number wheels from the driven gears 42, 42' and to coupled them to the ultimate resetting gears 106. in other words, the wheel-supporting shafts are shifted to resetting position.

At the end of the rotary movement of drive plate 180 in the counterclockwise direction, the driving pawl 200 falls into a notch 30 of disc 184 and pawl 204 is cammed to releasing position by cam surface 26.

When a succeeding dispensing operation is initiated, the reset motor 22 automatically begins its ON cycle of operation, rotating the main reset shaft 132 through 90 to rotate cam 134 counterclockwise and drive plate 180 (FIG. 5) clockwise, the rotation of plate 180 being back to the FIG. 2 position. Since drive plate 180 when moving in a clockwise direction also drives the notched disc 184 through the pawl 200, this causes turning of the primary resetting gear 130, which movement automatically resets the number of wheels to zero.

During the first 60 of rotation of cam 134 in the counterclockwise direction, no shifting of the wheel-supporting shafts takes place, so that no interference with the resetting of the number wheels occurs. However, during the final 30 (of the counterclockwise rotation), cam 134 causes the shifting of the wheel-supporting shafts to registering position, so that the number wheels are reclutched to the driven gears 42, 42'.

It will be appreciated that the motorized resetting mechanism or powered resetting mechanism of this invention is quite simple in operation and in construction, as compared to the manually operated resetting mechanism of the cited Bliss patent. This is due primarily to the fact that a poweroperated mechanism, which operates independently of any human intervention, does not require the complicate mechanical interlocks and protective features which are necessary with a manually operated resetting mechanism, to prevent improper operation thereof.

The invention claimed is:

1. in a register, an axially movable first shaft, a number wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft, a driven gear for rotating the number wheel during a counting operation, a resetting gear for resetting the number wheel to zero, shiftable means actuated by said shaft for connecting the number wheel selectively with the driven gear and the resetting gear, a rotatable driven member operatively connected to the resetting gear and mounted for free rotation on a second shaft, a rotatable driving member rigidly secured to said second shaft, and a one-way clutch coupling said driving member to said driven member for driving the latter positively and directly from said second shaft upon rotation of the driving member by said second shaft in a certain direction.

2. Combination set forth in claim 1, including also means driven by said second shaft for moving said first shaft axially upon rotation of said second shaft, thereby to actuate said shiftable means.

3. Combination defined in claim 2, wherein said shiftably means is actuated to connect the number wheel with the resetting gear upon rotation of said second shaft in one direction, and wherein said driven member is driven in response to rotation of said second shaft in the opposite direction.

4. Combination set forth in claim 1, including also bidirectionally operable motor-powered means for rotating said second shaft.

5. In a register, a rotatable number wheel, a driven gear for rotating the number wheel during a counting operation, a resetting gear for resetting the number wheel to zero, shiftable means for connecting the number wheel selectively with the driven gear and the resetting gear, a shaft, a first means driven by said shaft for causing said shiftable means to connect the number wheel to the resetting gear upon rotation of said shaft in one direction, and a second means positively and directly driven by said shaft for causing rotation of said resetting gear in response to rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction.

6. Combination set forth in claim 5, including also bidirectionally operable motor-powered means for rotating said shaft intermittently and alternately, first in said one direction and then in said opposite direction.

7. Combination defined in claim 5, wherein said first means also operates to cause said shiftable means to connect the number wheel to driven gear during rotation of said shaft in said opposite direction.

8. Combination of claim 5, wherein said second means includes a one-way clutch operatively connected between said shaft and said resetting gear.

i it l 8 I! 

1. In a register, an axially movable first shaft, a number wheel rotatably mounted on the shaft, a driven gear for rotating the number wheel during a counting operation, a resetting gear for resetting the number wheel to zero, shiftable means actuated by said shaft for connecting the number wheel selectively with the driven gear and the resetting gear, a rotatable driven member operatively connected to the resetting gear and mounted for free rotation on a second shaft, a rotatable driving member rigidly secured to said second shaft, and a one-way clutch coupling said driving member to said driven member for driving the latter positively and directly from said second shaft upon rotation of the driving member by said second shaft in a certain direction.
 2. Combination set forth in claim 1, including also means driven by said second shaft for moving said first shaft axially upon rotation of said second shaft, thereby to actuate said shiftable means.
 3. Combination defined in claim 2, wherein said shiftably means is actuated to connect the number wheel with the resetting gear upon rotation of said second shaft in one direction, and wherein said driven member is driven in response to rotation of said second shaft in the opposite direction.
 4. Combination set forth in claim 1, including also bidirectionally operable motor-powered means for rotating said second shaft.
 5. In a register, a rotatable number wheel, a driven gear for rotating the number wheel during a counting operation, a resetting gear for resetting the number wheel to zero, shiftable means for connecting the number wheel selectively with the driven gear and the resetting gear, a shaft, a first means driven by said shaft for causing said shiftable means to connect the number wheel to the resetting gear upon rotation of said shaft in one direction, and a second means positively and directly driven by said shaft for causing rotation of said resetting gear in response to rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction.
 6. Combination set forth in claim 5, including also bidirectionally operable motor-powered means for rotating said shaft intermittently and alternately, first in said one direction and then in said opposite direction.
 7. Combination defined in claim 5, wherein said first means also operates to cause said shiftable means to connect the number wheel to driven gear during rotation of said shaft in said opposite direction.
 8. Combination of claim 5, wherein said second means includes a one-way clutch operatively connected between said shaft and said resetting gear. 